BRS observes Deeksha Diwas across Telangana

Commemorating the historic hunger strike led by party president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao in 2009, the BRS observed Deeksha Diwas across the State on Friday. The indefinite hunger strike played a pivotal role in the formation of the separate State of Telangana.

The BRS cadre organised two-wheeler rallies, distributed fruits, held blood donation camps and ‘annadanam’ for the poor, besides various other charity events across all 33 districts of Telangana. They paid floral tributes at the statues of Telangana Thalli at the BRS party offices and paid homage to Telangana martyrs.

While BRS working president KT Rama Rao participated in the Deeksha Diwas programme at Karimnagar and later at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad, senior leaders including T Harish Rao, G Jagadish Reddy, P Sabitha Reddy, Satyavathi Rathod, Vemula Prashanth Reddy, S Niranjan Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, T Padma Rao Goud and others took part in the events organised in their respective districts.

It was on November 29, 2009 that Chandrashekhar Rao launched an indefinite hunger strike as part of his efforts to achieve Telangana State. However, the police arrested him at Alugunoor near Karimnagar while he was moving towards Siddipet and shifted him to Khammam prison and later to the NIMS hospital in Hyderabad where he continued his hunger strike. As his condition deteriorated after 11 days, the then UPA government announced on December 9 that the process for creation of Telangana State has begun, thus marking a historic moment. To mark the occasion, the BRS has been celebrating November 9 as Deeksha



Diwas.

Recalling the event, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said November 9 is the day Telangana became a certainty when a Do or Die battle erupted. He remembered that Chandrashekhar Rao sat on a fast unto death for Telangana statehood on this day, 15 years ago and his steely resolve created a formidable compulsion for the political establishment of the nation.

“Telangana was not given, it was won by the people’s movement under the able leadership of Chandrashekhar Rao after a protracted struggle against Congress. Thank you KCR sir for your leadership that inspires us everyday and will continue to do so for many generations to come,” he said.

Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao said Chandrashekhar Rao launched his indefinite hunger strike on this day 15 years ago, for the supreme cause of the Statehood movement. He said with the interests of Telangana and its people as paramount, the BRS supremo made Telangana State possible with his sincerity and commitment. “Telangana is the result of Chandrashekhar Rao’s commitment, sacrifices and leadership,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BRS leaders were outraged after the local bodies authorities removed the party flags and banners, ahead of the Deeksha Diwas at Mancherial, Mulugu, Mahabubnagar, Asifabad, Warangal, Khammam and several other parts of the State. They entered into heated arguments with the local officials, questioning about the presence of the Congress party flags and banners in the respective areas for the last few days. Later, the officials allowed presence of BRS flags and banners for the day.